CHAMBER ACHIEVES NEW NATIONAL, REGIONAL HEIGHTS IN 2006

By Jim Carpenter

Your Chamber is on the move. This year will be remembered as a watershed for new programs, activities and directions.  The value of your membership and opportunities for growing your business through the Chamber has expanded dramatically.

Here are highlights from 2006 accomplishments:

• Welcomed over 180 new members.

• Received national recognition for the M2M Member to Member discount program from the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Awards for Communication Excellence (ACE) program.  The honor was bestowed at the group’s 22nd annual conference in August in Cleveland.  The ACE program is a Chamber of Commerce competition to recognize excellence in all areas of its members’ communications and to honor, reward and celebrate the achievement of outstanding communication programs and projects.  This year’s competition drew 280 entries from 100 chambers throughout the world.  Entries were critiqued by over 40 diverse, experienced and professional judges. 

• Chamber president Jim Carpenter earned his Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) designation from the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. This is the highest level of professional accreditation that a Chamber executive can earn. 

• Chamber president Jim Carpenter was selected North Carolina Chamber Executive of the Year by the Carolinas Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.   He was also chosen as President Elect of the organization. 

• Developed a new logo, brand, marketing plan, website and signage.  These were showcased at an August open house to unveil the Chamber’s new vision and direction.  Past chairs were honored as they assisted in planting an apple tree. The planting represents a symbol of new beginnings as the Chamber’s time honored apple tree died a couple of years ago.

• Revamped, expanded and significantly upgraded the Business Link newsletter. A  Business Update is now published on alternating months in the Sunday Union Observer, promoting Chamber activities and business news to over 22,000 subscribers.  Beginning with the January issue, Business Link is now being e-mailed to our members for faster receipt and more versatile re-use and archiving.

• Completed a new state of the art, user friendly website (www.unioncountycoc.com ), including the on-line newsletter and html E mail system.  The website now receives over 11,000 monthly visits (and far more hits) from individuals and businesses across the country seeking information on visiting or relocating to our community

• Hosted numerous public policy issues forums with guest speakers such as Interim US Secretary of Transportation Maria Cino, State Treasurer Richard Moore, officials of the Federal Highway Administration, US Fish and Wildlife Service, North Carolina Department of Transportation and others.

• Conducted numerous public issues forums with speakers such as Senator Richard Burr, Congressman Robin Hayes, Congresswoman Sue Myrick and Margaret Kluttz, state director for Senator Elizabeth Dole.

• Continued our high-profile role as the County’s major advocate for business and industry in public policy decisions.  Officers and directors addressed County Commission, Planning Commission, Adequate Public Facilities Task Force, town councils, the County Board of Adjustment, Mecklenburg-Union Metropolitan Organization and other entities regarding funding and construction of roads and infrastructure. Your Chamber represented business interests before governmental bodies to balance concerns and opposition of citizens opposed to decisions to locate facilities near their properties.

• Completed a feasibility analysis in partnership with National Community Development Services, Inc. (NCDS) to assess Union County’s economy, major issues facing its business community and ranking of the Chamber’s strategic plan components. The purpose of this initiative was to determine through liaison with major community stakeholders the programs the Chamber can most effectively focus on to improve the community’s business climate and quality of life.

• Implemented a comprehensive strategic plan to focus and optimize the Chamber’s value to its members through the decade.

• Embraced diversity by ensuring African - American and Latino representation on our Board of Directors and committees.  Chamber brochures and other materials have been translated into Spanish and are available in hard copy and at www.unioncountycoc.com.

• Through our Home Ownership Coalition, successfully lobbied United Way of the Central Carolinas for additional funding in the amount of $30,000 for the Monroe-Union County Community Development Corporation.  Additional funds were used to increase staff and allow the CDC to expand its role to assist more Union County families in obtaining affordable home ownership.

• Organized a Union County Society of Human Resources Managers (SHRM) chapter.

• Joined eleven Charlotte Region chambers of commerce in offering discounted regional chamber memberships, a perk for Union County Chamber members.

• Completed a technology plan to carry the Chamber into 2007 and beyond.

• Began a new Chamber Champions program that will provide members with an annual selection of opportunities for participation in events, sponsorships and advertising.

Get involved in the Chamber and let it help grow your business. For information, contact us at 704-289-4567, info@unioncountycoc.com

Jim Carpenter, CCE is president of the Union County Chamber of Commerce